PRESS RELEASE

Domenic Ciarallo aims to heat things up at Pyeongchang Olympics--literally

Canadian businessman to extol virtues of his line of Rocket Sport dryers in South Korea

2018-02-05

Montreal, QC - When Domenic Ciarallo goes to Pyeongchang, South Korea to attend the 2018 Winter Olympic Games he will be aiming for gold.The results though, will not be based on what the 53-year-old Montreal native does on the ski hills, cross country trails, ski jump, ice arena or bobsled track.Far from it.

For Ciarallo, the coveted gold will come after the action concludes as he will set out to extol the virtues of his line of portable, lightweight devices that dry cleans and sanitizes athletic equipment and apparel in quick fashion he devised and markets under the Rocket Sport line (www.rocketsport.com) which includes the Rocket Dryer, Rocket Locker and Rocket Stall, to those he makes contact with while at the Games.

While several members from Team Canada and Team USA women’s Olympic hockey teams that will vie for Olympic gold currently endorse and use the Rocket Dryer and Rocket Locker, Ciarallo would like to make believers out of other Olympic participants in his product’s efficiency.

A big part of which includes those from host South Korea and China, who currently field two teams in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and will serve as site for the 2022 Winter Olympics.“They're investing billions of dollars into hockey and ice rinks in China,” cited Ciarallo in a recent television interview.

Ciarallo’s mission though will not solely focus on the athletes.

During his time in Pyeongchang, he hopes to make acquaintances with the official Games mascot and make an addition to his Rocket Sport family of mascots, which currently includes those from each club in the National Hockey League along with some from the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and National Football League along with some other minor professional teams.

The popularity of Ciarallo’s Rocket Sport product line was evident during the recent NHL All-Star Game at Tampa, Fla. when all of the NHL mascots were in attendance to greet him as he unveiled the newest member to his family in the Rocket Locker - a larger sized device that can handle bulkier costumes donned by mascots.

As an unexpected bonus during his time in Tampa, Ciarallo was informed his product became a major sponsor of the Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting, Ind.

Should Ciarallo fulfill what he wants to do at the Games along with striking up deals with retailers from South Korea and China during his overseas stay that would be as good as gold. “The opportunity is definitely a gold medal for the future of the business and myself,” he said.

Canadian Inventor Helps Minor Hockey Players and Parents Dry Out

When Domenic Ciarallo made a trip to China in 2007 he did more than just visit the sights of what the historic country had to offer.What he came back to Canada with was an idea to create a portable, lightweight device capable of cleaning garments and athletic equipment in relatively quick fashion after a day’s usage.Equally important a device that can remove unwanted bacteria and prevent staph infection.The invention became the Rocket Dryer™.

A 53-year-old Montreal native, Ciarallo has first hand of what hockey equipment goes through after toiling as a goaltender during his collegiate days at Middlebury College followed by a professional stint in Italy and Sweden.

But it wasn’t until he visited China where he saw a prototype of what some people in that country used to clean garments and prevent bacterial growth. “I said that we need to have something like this (in Canada),” he recalled. “It was part of a bigger vision to help with hygiene in sports and recreation.

”Launching the Rocket Dryer™ in 2010 under his Rocket Sport product line, Ciarallo’s initial objective was to target the minor hockey segment. It’s at this competitive level where ominous odours emanating from equipment and garment stored in equipment bags can be overbearing. Or even in residential garages or basements when equipment is being dried out and rank odours can be dominant.

In addition to cleaning apparel and preventing the spread of bacteria, Ciarallo was quick to point out the Rocket Dryer™ and more recent Rocket Locker™ can extend the lifespan of a player’s equipment.That should bring a smile to any hockey parents’ face in terms of saving a few greenbacks.

“Hockey equipment can cost $750 or more and with the use of the Rocket Dryer™ it can last for longer periods of time rather than having to throw it out,” he said.

In explaining how the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™ operate, Ciarallo said, “It is based on the concept where a combination of heat, UV light and vented air dries most sporting equipment and clothing within 60 minutes.The drying process significantly reduces unpleasant odours and prevents the buildup of potentially harmful bacteria.The rapid elimination of corrosive sweat also significantly increases the lifespan of sporting equipment, keeping it like new.”

Equipment and clothing are hung on a steel frame using S-hooks.A steel frame is enclosed within a polyurethane-lined fabric dryer bag. The heater unit heats air inside at a constant 70 degrees C.

A fan circulates air and vents excess moisture to quickly and gently dry equipment and clothing inside and out – even in hard to reach interior areas of skates and gloves that contain a tremendous amounts of bacteria. This minimizes contact time of corrosive sweat against joints and fasteners. It also preserves integrity and tensile strength of fabrics, equipment straps. The combination of regulated heat and vented air dries equipment thoroughly without overheating or damaging material like traditional tumble-dryers.

While Ciarallo initially targeted the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™ for minor hockey usage, he also saw how valuable it could be for other athletes who don heavy equipment while performing highly athletic maneuvers.

Among those include mascots.

And to this day, all of the NHL mascots are utilizing the Rocket Dryer™.“I love it to death. It’s an awesome product,” said Bailey, official mascot of the Los Angeles Kings, of the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™.

Being the first NHL mascot to try the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™, ‘Bailey’acknowledged he was a bit skeptical at first.But after using it, he was sold on it and extolled the virtues of it to his fellow NHL mascots during last year’s NHL all-star game in Los Angeles.

“I use it every game. It definitely helps remove any rank odours and it dries my equipment quickly.”

Just how has the Rocket Dryer™ and Rocket Locker™ been received by the public?

Steve Parsons says he won’t leave home without it. Nor will eight-year-old Special K.

Participating in the world’s longest hockey game that lasted 246 hours and two minutes in Chestermere, Alta. in May, 2012, Parsons said were it not for the Rocket Dryer™ he might not have been able to go the distance in an event recognized by the Guinness World Book of Records.

A former professional player, Parsons underwent intense physical conditioning, mental training and planning prior to when the puck was first dropped to start the event.

During the marathon Parsons said the participants lived in the rink for 11 days and played in segments of 4 1/2 hours on the ice and 4 1/2 hours off.Parsons revealed his biggest concern was in how his feet would stand up to the rigorous test.

“The chafing and rashes...all of that comes in wet gear,” he said.

In an attempt to combat what could derive through his wet hockey gear, Parsons said he purchased a Rocket Dryer™.“I hung all of my gear after every single game and had it totally dry for the next session. I could play all 11 days and played every shift and took part in others as well,” he recalled. “With the Rocket Dryer™ I avoided chafing, washing and staph infections which I had a history of when I played in the American Hockey League.”

In addition to drying out her goalie equipment in almost 30 minutes with the Rocket Dryer™, Special K said what makes the device so unique is that it is easy for almost anyone to assemble.“I’m eight years old and I can put it together myself in my hotel room,” she cited. “It’s so easy to set up and it really works.”

The only problem, she said with a smile, is that all of her teammates want to utilize it as well.

Not one to stand pat, Ciarallo has continued to add to his Rocket Sport product line and recently unveiled the Rocket Stall™ during the recent 2018 National Hockey League all-star game in Tampa, FL.

A byproduct of the Rocket Locker™ and Rocket Dryer™, the Rocket Stall™ measures 30 inches in width by 72 inches in height and 30 inches in depth and was created to dry multiple athletic sports gear, Domenic shared.

In creating the Rocket Stall™, Ciarallo was quick to point out it provides added space for performers who don either more bulkier equipment such as a goalkeeper or a team mascot, who often sport apparel that far exceeds their physical frame.

“The Rocket Locker™ is big and the Rocket Dryer™ is limited with the amount of equipment. But the Rocket Stall™ was created because of space constraints for some people,” he said.

Canadian entrepreneur to join NHL All-Stars and Mascots in Tampa Bay

MONTREAL, QC - When the top players from the National Hockey League take to the ice for the NHL all-star weekend in Tampa, Fla. Jan. 27-28, a Canadian entrepreneur will be on hand to unveil a new product. One Domenic Ciarallo insisted is good for the game of hockey through a portable, lightweight device he created with the ability to dry, sanitize and prevent the buildup of potentially harmful bacteria in garments and equipment in a short timeframe.

While the Rocket Dryer and Rocket Locker made their debut on the market in 2010 and are currently part of the 53-year-old Montreal native’s Rocket Sport product line, Ciarallo will introduce the Rocket Stall during the NHL all-star festivities with all 31 mascots as users.

Gaining popularity throughout Canada by minor hockey players of all ages, the Rocket Dryer and Rocket Locker have also been a big hit with the NHL as these products are utilized by 30 of the 31 NHL mascots. “I love it to death. It’s an awesome product,” said Bailey, official mascot of the Los Angeles Kings, of the Rocket Dryer and Rocket Locker. “I use it every game. It definitely helps remove any rank odours and it dries my equipment quickly.”

In devising the Rocket Stall, Ciarallo said it is a larger version of his initial products (72”H x 30”W x 30”L) and works on the same principle where a combination of heat, UV light and vented air dries most sporting equipment and clothing within 60 minutes.

The drying process significantly reduces unpleasant odours and prevents buildup of potentially harmful bacteria. The rapid elimination of corrosive sweat also significantly increases the lifespan of expensive investments in mascot costumes, keeping it like new.

“A fan circulates air and vents excess moisture to quickly and gently dry equipment and clothing - even in hard to reach interior areas that contain a tremendous amount of bacteria,” cited Ciarallo, who got the idea to create such a device after visiting China in 2008 and witnessing how some people in that country cleaned their apparel with a device similar to what he created. “This minimizes contact time of corrosive sweat while preserving integrity and tensile strength of fabrics unlike the damage caused by traditional tumble-dryers.”

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About Domenic Ciarallo

Domenic Ciarallo is president of Global Premiums Corp., a comprehensive source for premium sportswear and accessories, founder of Rocket Sport, Proudly Canadian, and has distribution rights for the Fresh Body brands.

Details about the Rocket Stall™ and the product line can be found at www.rocketsport.com